Memories on the road
By Staff
Kim West
I have always loved to travel, especially if it involves a road trip and some friends. I have flown several times and ridden a Greyhound bus and Amtrak train, but there's something about riding for several hours in a vehicle that allows you to really get to know your traveling companions.
My favorite road trip from high school was a weekend stay in the mountains of Asheville, N.C., with my high school Scholars Bowl team. I know that doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but I'll never forget the beautiful, three-story house we rented or the group hike up to a picture-perfect waterfall.
I don't have a favorite road trip from college because there are too many to choose from. There was the time I drove to North Carolina to visit my then-boyfriend and got hopelessly lost on the post of Ft. Bragg trying to find his barracks, or the time I missed the team bus to a road game in Spartanburg, S.C., and spent about 12 hours trying to catch up with my teammates.
Another time I drove with a dorm buddy to Covington, La., to watch a friend get married, and then we lost a few dollars and our disposable camera to pickpockets while dancing in the French Quarter.
Last week I took my first road trip since finishing college. My roommate Katrice and her boyfriend Quint had been planning a trip to Panama City, so I joined in, along with our new roommate, Amy, and my boyfriend, Brian.
I had never been to Florida before, and I couldn't wait to hit the beach and hop into the robust waves.
Amy and I had decided to swim sprints into the waves and quickly reached a sandbar, but the waves were much stronger there. We were both caught up in a very strong rip current, but Amy managed to get out first and made sure to lend me a hand because I was being pulled away from shore.
Then, as we neared the beach, Brian urged us to get out of the water as quickly as possible because a stingray was making a beeline for us.
I'm already looking forward to the next road trip, but maybe the next one won't involve second-degree sunburn or a close encounter with something that killed the Crocodile Hunter.
